James 1:23-24

NIV: Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

The Message: Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.

I don't know about looking in a mirror and immediately forgetting what I look like, but I know that I have often look at figures (I work with numbers!), gone to insert a figure into a spreadsheet, accounts program or tax return and before I can do so, I have forgotten the number I am copying. Now whilst it might be a senior moment when I do this (highly unlikely, I know, in view of my very young years…!!!), it generally means that I have not been concentrating. Well, James is telling us exactly the same thing here. It is no good reading our bibles if we immediately forget what it is that we have read and if we fail to put it into practice.

In order to really obey God, to learn from His word, we need to read the bible with concentration, to listen out for the voice of the Holy Spirit teaching us, guiding us, bringing to our attention passages or verses we had never really noticed before, or giving us a different interpretation of familiar verses. It is a bit like going to school to learn to read and write. You sit there, listen to the teacher, look at the books, use the pencils and so on, but at the end of the day, you can read or write no better than you could at the start of the day. All the teaching has gone to waste as you really did not pay attention or listen properly. I suppose it is also like when I was at University and did a course on electromagnetism. I would sit there listening to the lecturer, take copious notes but I really didn't have a clue what he was saying or what I was writing down. And even buying the text book didn't help as I couldn't understand that either! I never did like electromagnetism!

What is the point of having a bible, having the written word of God right in front of us if we never open the book, or if when we do, we just skim read or listen to the radio at the same time, or keep thinking of other things instead? The bible is the word of the Living God, the Creator of the universe and everything in it. He has gone to the trouble of having all those authors write the various books and letters, making over 300 prophecies regarding Jesus Christ, many of them hundreds, if not thousands of years before Jesus was born (each prophesy has come true and the odds of that happening are astronomical - you stand more chance of winning the lottery than you do of having all those prophecies come true and yet each one of them was fulfilled by Jesus). There are also all those other prophecies about the last days, the end times we are currently living in. Not only that, but the bible is full of advice, wisdom, examples of men and women who obeyed God, and also examples of those who did not. It gives us a picture of God, showing us just how faithful, how loving, how merciful how just and holy He is, and it tells us about His Son, Jesus Christ, who died to save each one of us if only we choose to accept Him as our Lord and Saviour. It is not just a book to pick up and read, but it is a book to obey, a book to learn from.

The usefulness of the time we spend in reading and studying the bible is reflected in the way we behave, the things we think and say and do. The word of God is active and living, it will change you from within if you let it, make you more like Jesus. But you have to have an open mind, a willingness to be changed, to allow God to work on you and in you.

Are you willing to let God work on you and in you? Are you willing for Him to change you, to make you more like Jesus? The choice is yours as God would never force you. So if you have never opened up a bible, take a look at one, either one you can hold in your hand and read, or there are plenty available online. You will read about murder, incest, rape, wars, famine and drought, love, forgiveness, mercy. Some of it (especially parts the book of Judges) reads like a page from a tabloid newspaper with rape, revenge and murder. But the overriding theme to me, is the message of God's love through His Son, Jesus Christ.

So the next time you pick up your bible, really read it, think about what it has to say, meditate on the passage you have read and put into practice what you have learned. Don't be like the man who looks in the mirror and then walks away, immediately forgetting what he looks like or who he is.

James 1:20

NIV: Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you

The Message:

So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.

Take a look around at the country you live in and the people in it. See how the government behaves, how the officials and ministers conduct themselves both in public and in private. See who is making the headlines in the newspapers and the reasons they are being written about. Look how people behave when they go for a night out and the things they get up to.

I look around here in the UK, and see MP's still fiddling their expenses and claiming they have done nothing wrong, bankers who helped bring about the recession now paying themselves huge bonuses with taxpayers money, youngsters going for a night out with the sole aim of getting drunk and my heart breaks at what is going on around me. I was checking my bank balance the other day online and noticed a large purchase from Amazon had not gone through although the goods had been delivered two days earlier. When I queried this with the bank (to see if the payment was pending), the girl told me to just keep the money and not tell Amazon!

It is a case of everyman for himself and it doesn't matter who gets hurt in the process, or whether what you are doing is right or wrong. Just look out for yourself and ignore the cost to others.

When I was at school, we had philosophy lessons with Mr McEchran and as part of that, he would draw three circles (like a bull ring) on a chair and we would each take turns in standing on the chair and reciting poetry. One of the many verses he had us recite was this one, from John Donne (Meditation XVII):

No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main...….any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee.

I am continually reminded of these words when I look around. People follow the examples of others, so if it is usual to spend your time getting drunk and sleeping around, then you are more likely to do the same. If MP's fiddle their expenses, or claim more than they are entitled to, then this sets an example for the rest of the country, because of the leaders of the country are on the fiddle, then why shouldn't everyone else do likewise?

The state of the country today is a reflection of our morals, of the beliefs of everyone. It is easy to sit here and criticise everyone else for what is happening around us, but we each play our own part too. We are not superior to others because we don't fiddle our expenses, we don't sleep around, or get drunk or whatever it may be. But let’s face it, each one of us is a sinner, and each one of us does things that are wrong probably every single day.

James here is telling us to get rid of everything that is bad in our lives, to throw out the rubbish and live our lives as God would have us live them. Get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is prevalent. Don't behave like others, don't cheat the taxman, falsify your expenses, steal from others, take drugs, sleep around, get drunk, hurt others and so on. Like Peter says in 1 Peter 2:1-3:

So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretence, envy and hurtful talk. You've had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God's pure kindness. Then you'll grow up mature and whole in God (The Message)

We need to turn to Christ, to let God's word fill our lives so we naturally do what God would have us do, not follow the examples of our neighbours, family, friends and colleagues. Just imagine what this country would be like if we did as Peter instructed, swept away all the bad stuff in our lives and tried to live our lives for God instead of our own pleasure, putting others first instead of ourselves, honouring our parents, obeying the ten commandments? What if there was a sweep of the Holy Spirit across this nation and whole villages, towns and counties turned back to God? Wouldn't that be amazing?

It is all a case of each individual getting their heart right with God. Then everything else will follow naturally. Yes, we will still mess up, but at least if our hearts are right with God, He can work on us, changing us to be more like Jesus. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.

James 1:20

NIV: for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires

The Message: God's righteousness doesn't grow from human anger.

The word anger here, or wrath, is apparently from the Greek word that describes a deep internal resentment and rejection, and, in this context, means a rejection of God's word.

Have you ever noticed how angry some people get when discussing religion? In particular, how angry non Christians get at times when talking about Christianity? People get so het up, so irate, you can almost see the flames rising out of the top of their head, they are so mad! Well, maybe that anger is part and parcel of the rejection of God's word. I mean, after all, why would you get so upset about something if you didn't believe in it? Why get so angry if it is something that is ridiculous, a prop for those who aren't strong enough to cope on their own, a made up religion based on some guy who never really existed and if he did, then there is no way he could have risen from the dead….

Maybe all that anger is because they know, deep down, they are rejecting the word of God, the gift of salvation freely offered to each and every one of us and they are trying to justify their refusal. Or maybe it is because they see the relationship that others have with God, with Jesus, and because they do not have that relationship, take the path of anger in belittling Christians, making fun of them, treating their faith with contempt and, in other countries in the world, imprison and torture them, kill them.

Whatever the reasons, it seems clear that anger is from the devil and draws us away from God, not towards him. Oh, yes, there is righteous anger - remember Jesus in the Temple driving out the moneylenders (Matthew 21:12-17, Mark 11:12-19, Luke 19:45-48)? But how often can we say that we have a righteous anger? It is certainly not righteous when I get mad at my boys because they still have clothes all over their bedroom floor despite being asked/told several times to tidy their room. It is not righteous when I get mad at my husband because of something he has done, or something he has failed to do. And it most definitely is not righteous when I am hurt, upset or stressed out and take it out on my family by getting mad with them.

The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self control. We, I, need to cultivate these in order to demonstrate to others the love of God. If I am wearing my spiritual armour, then I will have on my feet the shoes of the gospel of Christ, the peace that comes from the Good News. If I am carrying the peace of Christ with me, then the devil will have less chance of using human emotions and reactions to get me mad or rather, to allow myself to get me mad - after all, we all have a choice, to be angry or not, and it is up to us which option we choose. The devil doesn't make us angry, but he can put everything in our way to try and tempt us to get angry. It is up to us the final decision we make: do I let the fact that my daughter is being a stroppy little madam (no mean feat at age 20!) get me mad or do I just let it ride, accept that she has got out of bed on the wrong side and is being just plain grumpy?

It is not as easy as it perhaps sounds, there are times when things just get to me, when everything seems to go wrong and (of course) it is everyone else's fault, not mine, and I explode. But there are also times when I let the grace of God flow through me, when I am able to stay calm despite what is going on around me.

But at the end of the day, we can each choose to let our anger get the better of us, to take the option that draws us away from God, to reject the prompting of the Holy Spirit telling us to stay calm, to not get mad, or we can choose to let our lives show the fruits of the Spirit, to let love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control be evident in the things that we do, the things we say, and how we behave and react to circumstances and people around us. Because man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

James 1:19

NIV: My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry

The Message: Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear.

Doesn't Eugene Petersen have a novel way of putting things?!!Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue and let anger straggle along in the rear!

How often have I heard someone say something and then just jumped straight in with the first thing that came into my head, making a potentially awkward or angry situation even worse? I am learning, through my husband's depression, not to say the first thing that comes into my head because I just know it will be taken completely the wrong way. When someone is depressed, they magnify everything so that it all revolves around them. When they are walking in the street and they see a couple talking, then if one of the couple happens to glance their way, then they are obviously discussing him/her. If you say something that is really just standing up for yourself because the depressed person is so wrapped up in themselves they do not realise how hurtful the things they are saying are, then you too are against them. It’s difficult to explain but if you have ever suffered from depression or know someone who has, then you will know what I am talking about.

But depression is an illness, one with lots of different symptoms. So I have learned to hold my tongue, to stop and think before I speak out, to just appreciate that a lot of the things my husband says are purely because he is ill and does not realise what he is saying. He is speaking from pain, and anger and depression.

In just the same way, many people today are so wrapped up in themselves they do not appreciate how they are treating others, how hurtful some of their words can be, or how demoralising or belittling. Of course, some people are just plain pig ignorant, that goes without saying! But others are weighed down by the cares of the world, by the worry of providing for their family, by illness, death, finance problems, job worries. They do not always watch what they say because of this. So why add to their anxiety by answering back in the same tone, the same manner?

Take a look at what the bible says in Proverbs:

Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (NIV)

I know from experience that a gentle answer does turn away wrath, but a harsh word, retorting back in kind, just makes things worse.

So when James is telling us to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, he is really only telling us to stop and think before we open our mouths and put both feet in! If we take the time to listen to what has just been said (rather than respond immediately with the first thing that we think of - or in some cases, not even bother to think before answering back), then that gives us pause, a time for reflection and a time to curb our thoughts and rein in the automatic response.

Speaking out of anger, or because we think our opinions are being ignored, or that we are being offended or neglected, or because we haven’t won an argument or discussion, only leads to more arguments, more anger. Instead, we should be quick to listen. Instead of rushing in with a quick answer, let the words that have been spoken to us sink in, let the meaning be fully understood and try to come to some understanding of the motives of the speaker, the reasons why they spoke in that tone of voice, used those words. Give them the benefit of the doubt.

We don't know the motives of the other person, why they are speaking in that way, saying those words. We don't know what sort of day they have had, what they are personally going through so listen to what they have to say, take it in, and react with kind words, not angry or harsh words. Deflect any anger through a soft response. After all, a gentle answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger.

We are called to bring peace to this world, the peace of Jesus Christ, not the anger of the devil. So do not let the enemy tempt you into a quick answer which only makes things worse. And believe you me, I am speaking from experience here as I know exactly how many arguments can be caused by answering in kind. It is not easy to give a soft answer, to reply with kindness when you are being made to feel as if you are two inches high and completely worthless, useless, not good enough. But to me, this is what James is telling us. And after all, aren't we supposed to turn the other cheek anyway (Luke 6:29)?

This does not mean we have to become a doormat though, and let others walk all over us. There is a difference between standing up for what is right and letting others take advantage of you all the time. But is someone is itching to have an argument, to make you feel bad or small, then just turn away, respond with the peace of Jesus, give them a polite answer and do not retaliate.

Believe you me, life will be so much calmer then! It is not easy, it is really hard to effectively bite your tongue at times and not answer back so pray about it, ask God for help and He will not be slow to answer your prayers. My husband has had depression for several years now, and it is now a lot easier to just take what he says knowing it is the illness causing it. Of course, there are those times when I know he is being just plain rude and obnoxious, but even so, by not responding in kind it stops an argument from taking place. And the great thing is, he knows when he is doing it now, because you can tell when the light dawns and he realises just how ridiculous he is being!

So lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear.

James 1:18

Well, it has taken me over a month to get as far as verse 18 of the first chapter - do you think that is some kind of record and if so, is it one to be proud of??!!! Whatever it is, at least I am still managing to read though my bible. I'm actually not just reading James, but seem to be skipping all over the place at the moment having read Ezekiel, Joel, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2 and 3 John, and have almost finished Revelation. All since our church conference at the beginning of November. I am not, mind you, journalling all those other books. There are, after all, only 24 hours in each day and only 7 days in a week, no matter how much I ask for 28/8 so I can get done everything I want to do!

Anyhow, enough rambling as here (drum roll please!) at long last is James chapter1 verse 18....

********************

NIV: He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created

The Message: He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.

God chose to create us, to bring us to life. This was a sovereign act of God made in full knowledge of all that we would do, of all that would come to pass and has still to come.

I think of time as being somewhat like a ribbon, and God can go to any point on that ribbon at any time and be fully aware of everything else that is going on in that ribbon no matter where or when. There is no beginning, no end to the ribbon, it just is and God can see the whole ribbon at all times. Isn't it just amazing to now that God knew about the atom bomb, abortion, drugs, gay marriages, paedophiles, famine, earthquakes, volcanoes, wars, genocide, and everything else that goes on in this world and yet he still chose to create the world and everything that is in it including us? He knew before he even created the world that Jesus would die for our sins, yet he still went ahead and did it. I find that amazing and so humbling, because who am I that God should do that for me?

Not only that, but as these words from James tell us, he created us through the word of truth, through speaking his word. Just read Genesis chapter 1 and see how God created the world. It wasn't by waving a magic wand, or by conducting some huge scientific experiment. All He did was speak the world into existence. Just imagine how powerful a voice He has if just by speaking He can create things!!!!

Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

His word is living and active. It is not something that is dead or dormant, something that was once of use or purpose and is now no longer doing anything. It is living, alive, tangible, real, something you can reach out and touch, feel, experience. It is active, moving, working, doing things and is full of energy. Just take a look at the bible, the word of God. Read it, really read it, taking in the meaning, the context of each and every word. There is nothing in the bible without a reason, a purpose. How often do you look at a verse and it is as if you have never read it before when you know that you have read that verse, that chapter possibly more than once, twice or even three times. The word of God is active and living, it moves, changes. You can read a verse one day and get one meaning from it, then read the same verse another day and get a completely different meaning.

He created us using his word. Amazing!

Not only that, but as the NLT puts it, we, out of all creation, became his prized possession. So each and every one of us is prized, treasured by God. Not one of us is deemed worthless, of no use, not good enough. Each one of us is worthy.

The NIV uses the word "firstfruits" of all he created. The firstfruits were the first and best crops of the harvest and which were to be given to him as an offering:

Exodus 23:19 Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God

The first fruits were the cream of the crop, the best the harvest would offer and God considers each one of us to be the best of his creation. Giving the first fruits to God was a sign of faith that the harvest would yield enough to provide for the family, for the rest of the year. It was symbolic of trust in God's promises that He would provide a full harvest, just as today, our belief and trust in Jesus is symbolic that we believe in God's promises of eternal life.

So the next time you feel that you aren't good enough, that nothing you do could ever live up to the standards set by your parents, your boss, your teachers, your spouse or whoever, just remember that God thinks of you as his prized possession, the best of the harvest, the crown of all his creations. And if the God of the Universe believes that about you, why do you believe any less?

James 1:16-17

NIV: Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

The Message: So, my very dear friends, don't get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle.

We need to get real with ourselves and stop pretending that every time something bad happens to us, or when we give in to temptation, that it is God's fault. The truth of the matter is, God does not tempt us, and the bad things that happen are either the consequences of our own actions (or inactions) or of sin, either our own or someone else's.

This world is not a good place to be at times. There are bad things that happen, there are places where it is not safe to be. In addition to all the bad things that can happen because of men, we also have the devil prowling around like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8). It’s a dangerous world out there and we as Christians should stop putting the blame on God (as non believers do - kind of makes you wonder how they can really blame God when they don't believe in Him though!) and realise that every good and perfect gift from above comes down from our heavenly Father. God does not give us stone when we ask for bread, does not give us a snake when we ask for water.

We are in the season of Advent, a word which derives from the Latin word "adventus" and means coming. At this time of the year we celebrate the coming of Jesus, and yes, I know all about Christmas Day originally being the winter solstice feast of the Romans. Many people say that Christianity basically hijacked a pagan festival and so Christmas is really nothing other than a pagan celebration and is nothing to do with Jesus at all.

But what they fail to take into account is that Jesus really existed, he really did live on this earth and there is more evidence of his life, death and resurrection than there is of Julius Caesar, Plato, even the works of Shakespeare. We are not celebrating a pagan festival when we celebrate Christmas, we are remembering the greatest gift of all, God himself coming down to earth to save each and every single one of us, because of his great love for us.

And the great thing is, God does not change, ever. He will not be forever changing the rules, so we can do one thing one day, and have it forbidden the next. He will not love us on a Monday and hate us the rest of the week, or only offer eternal life to some people and not to others.

The gift we have in Jesus is offered to each and every single one of us, no matter who we are, what we have done, where we live, whatever the colour of our skin, whether we are rich or poor, good or bad, in good health or seriously ill, whatever age we may be, in work or unemployed, old and frail or young and vigorous. No matter who we are, God loves each and every single one of us and this season of Advent, don't let the enemy throw you off course, get you so involved with the tinsel and glitter, the buying of presents, the stress of getting everything ready for Christmas so that you are blinded to the reality of what we are celebrating.

This is the birth of the Saviour, the one who gave up heaven for our sakes, who came to earth to be born as a man and to die for us, to take on his shoulders all our sins, each and every single one of them. This is the best and most perfect gift of all, a gift freely offered to all men from the Father of the heavenly lights, the one who does not change like shifting sand.

I love the way the Message translates verse 17 here as "the gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light". Isn't that just awesome? Rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light.

To me, that translation has the very feel and essence of Christmas within it, with all the tinsel and glitter that is around at the moment. But the tinsel and glitter we have from God is not something that will ever lose its shine or lustre, it will not tarnish or fade away.

So stop blaming God when things don't go your way, my way. Set your eyes and your hearts on heaven, on the one who came down to save us, the one who gave up his own life so we could spend eternity with Him. The things we go through on this earth are fleeting things, here today and gone tomorrow and when compared with eternity in heaven, they really do not matter at all.